The polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is an important cause of both menstrual irregularity and androgen excess in women. When fully expressed (for example, in women with hirsutism, irregular menstrual cycles, obesity, and a classic ovarian morphology on transvaginal ultrasound), PCOS can be readily diagnosed. However, there has been considerable controversy about specific diagnostic criteria when not all of these classic features are evident.

PCOS is thought to be one of the most common endocrinopathies in women, affecting between 6.5 and 8 percent of women overall. The syndrome is characterized clinically by oligomenorrhea and hyperandrogenism, as well as the frequent presence of associated risk factors for cardiovascular disease, including obesity, glucose intolerance, dyslipidemia, and obstructive sleep apnea. Other features include:

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